Collapsible shelves

ABSTRACT

A collapsible shelving unit includes a front frame and a rear frame. A pair of opposed side walls are each hingeably connected to the front frame and to the rear frame. A plurality of shelves supported between the side walls. The side walls may each include a plurality of side panels hingeably connected to one another. The plurality of side panels may be capable of pivoting inward such that the side walls move inward toward one another as the shelving unit is being collapsed.

BACKGROUND

Stocking retail (such as grocery) shelves is relatively labor intensive. This process typically starts by receiving crates (or other temporary reusable or recyclable packages) of the products for sale at the retail store (such as a grocery store). The products are removed from the crates and arranged on the retail shelves. The crates are returned to the warehouse or recycled. As the products are removed and purchased, new products are received, unpackaged and placed on the shelves.

SUMMARY

A collapsible shelving unit includes a front frame and a rear frame. A pair of opposed side walls are each hingeably connected to the front frame and to the rear frame. A plurality of shelves supported between the side walls. The side walls may each include a plurality of side panels hingeably connected to one another. The plurality of side panels may be capable of pivoting inward such that the side walls move inward toward one another as the shelving unit is being collapsed.

The shelving unit may be loaded with goods at a warehouse and shipped to a store. At the store, the customers can select goods directly from the shelves. When the shelving unit is empty, it can be collapsed and returned to the warehouse for reuse.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings can be briefly described as follows:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shelving unit according to one embodiment in the assembled, upright, use position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the shelving unit of FIG. 1 in a collapsed position.

FIG. 3 shows the shelving unit of FIG. 2 being lifted toward an assembled position.

FIG. 4 shows the shelving unit of FIG. 3 lifted toward the assembled position with the top and bottom walls being folded down.

FIG. 5 shows the shelving unit of FIG. 4 in the assembled position.

FIG. 6 is a section view through the shelving unit of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 shows the shelf of FIG. 6 being removed from the shelving unit.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the shelving unit.

FIG. 9 shows the shelving unit of FIG. 1 loaded with goods.

FIG. 10 is a front view of the shelving unit of FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is a side view of the shelving unit of FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is a top view of the shelving unit of FIG. 1.

FIG. 13 is a back view of the shelving unit of FIG. 1.

FIG. 14 is a bottom view of the shelving unit of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A shelving unit 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1-14. Referring to FIG. 1, the shelving unit 10 includes a rear frame 12 and a front frame 14. Each of the rear frame 12 and front frame 14 extends around a generally rectangular perimeter and each is molded as an integral piece of plastic, although other materials could be used. Sidewalls 16 are hingably connected to the rear frame 12 and are each hingably connected to the front frame 14. Each of the sidewalls 16 includes a pair of side panels 18 connected to one another by a hinge 20. Top and bottom walls 22 are each hingably connected to the front frame 14 and latched to the rear frame 12, as will be explained below.

The shelving unit includes a plurality of shelves 24. In the particular example shown, the shelves 24 are wire shelves, such as the known coated metal wire shelves. The front frame 14 and the rear frame 12 each include a plurality of supports 26 projecting laterally inward toward one another and each having a recess opening upward. The supports 26 support the shelves 24.

As shown in FIG. 2, the shelving unit 10 is collapsible with the front frame 14 collapsed down adjacent the rear frame 12. The top and bottom walls 22 are folded inward and collapsed onto the sidewalls 16, which have the side panels 18 stacked on one another. Further, the shelves 24 are stacked inside the collapsed shelving unit 10 on top of the rear frame 12.

To assemble the shelving unit 10, the front frame 14 is first partially lifted as shown in FIG. 3. (In FIG. 3, the shelves 24 have been removed for purposes of illustration.) As the front frame 14 is lifted off of the rear frame 12, the sidewalls 16 unfold with the side panels 18 pivoting at the front frame 14 and the rear frame 12. The side panels 18 also pivot relative to one another at hinge 20. The top and bottom walls 22 are hingeably connected to the front frame 14 and may be releasably latched in position to the front frame 14 by releasable latches (not shown).

Referring to FIG. 4, once the sidewalls 16 are in their upright position, the top and bottom walls 22 can be pivoted downward (after releasing any latches that connect them to the front frame 14) about the hinge connection to the front frame 14 as shown in FIG. 4. The top and bottom walls 22 snap fit or are releasably latched in position to the rear frame 12. The shelves 24 can then be removed from their storage position on the rear frame 12.

As shown in FIG. 5, the assembled front frame 14, rear frame 12, sidewalls 16 and top and bottom walls 22 can then be rotated onto the bottom wall 22. The shelves 24 are then installed into the shelving unit 10.

FIG. 6 is a section view through the lower portion of the shelving unit 10. As shown, each of the shelves 24 includes a foot 32 projecting downward at each corner. The foot 32 is sized and configured to be received within a recess 34 opening upward from each support 26 in the rear frame 12 and the front frame 14. As shown in FIG. 7, the shelves 24 can be removed through the opening in the front frame 14.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the shelving unit 10. As shown, recesses 30 on the top of the front frame 14 and rear frame 12 are sized and configured to receive the feet 32 of a shelf 24. As shown in FIG. 9, one of the shelves 24 can be placed on top of the shelving unit 10, with the feet 32 received in the recesses 30, to secure the shelf 24.

Referring to FIG. 9, the shelving unit 10 can be shipped from a warehouse or distribution facility to a store loaded with goods 50 on the shelves. The shelving unit 10 may be shipped on a pallet. Optionally, the shelf 24 that is shipped on the bottom wall 22 can be removed and located on top of the shelving unit 10 as shown in FIG. 9. The goods 50 can be goods that are for sale, such as in a grocery store. Consumers can select goods 50 from the shelves 24 for purchase. When the shelving unit 10 is empty, the shelving unit 10 can be disassembled and collapsed following the procedure of FIGS. 2-5 in reverse. The collapsed shelving unit 10 shown in FIG. 2 occupies little volume and can be more easily returned to the warehouse or distribution facility to be restocked with goods 50.

Each of the components of the shelving unit 10, other than the shelves 24, may be injection molded of a suitable polymer. FIG. 10 is a front view of the shelving unit 10. FIG. 11 is a side view of the shelving unit 10. FIG. 12 is a top view of the shelving unit 10. FIG. 13 is a rear view of the shelving unit 10. FIG. 14 is a bottom view of the shelving unit 10.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes and jurisprudence, exemplary configurations described above are considered to represent a preferred embodiment of the invention. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A collapsible shelving unit comprising: a front frame; a rear frame; a pair of opposed side walls each hingeably connected to the front frame and to the rear frame; and a plurality of shelves supported between the side walls.
 2. The collapsible shelving unit of claim 1 wherein the side walls each include a plurality of side panels hingeably connected to one another.
 3. The collapsible shelving unit of claim 2 wherein the plurality of side panels are capable of pivoting inward such that the side walls move inward toward one another as the shelving unit is being collapsed.
 4. The collapsible shelving unit of claim 1 further including a top wall hingeably connected to one of the front frame and the rear frame.
 5. The collapsible shelving unit of claim 4 further including a bottom wall hingeably connected to one of the front frame and the rear frame.
 6. The collapsible shelving unit of claim 1 wherein the plurality of shelves are supported directly on the front frame and the rear frame.
 7. The collapsible shelving unit of claim 6 wherein the front frame and the rear frame each include a plurality of supports projecting laterally inward toward one another and wherein the plurality of shelves are supported on the plurality of supports.
 8. The collapsible shelving unit of claim 7 wherein the plurality of supports each have a recess opening upward.
 9. The collapsible shelving unit of claim 8 wherein the plurality of shelves each include a plurality of feet received in the plurality of recesses in the plurality of supports.
 10. The collapsible shelving unit of claim 1 wherein the front frame and the rear frame are formed of plastic and wherein the plurality of shelves are wire shelves.
 11. A collapsible shelving unit comprising: a front frame including a plurality of front supports projecting laterally inward toward one another; a rear frame including a plurality of rear supports projecting laterally inward toward one another; a pair of opposed side walls each hingeably connected to the front frame and to the rear frame, the side walls each including a plurality of side panels hingeably connected to one another, the plurality of side panels being capable of pivoting inward such that the side walls move inward toward one another as the shelving unit is being collapsed; a top wall and a bottom wall each hingeably connected to one of the front frame and the rear frame; and a plurality of shelves supported on the plurality of front supports of the front frame and the plurality of rear supports on the rear frame.
 12. The collapsible shelving unit of claim 11 wherein the plurality of front supports and the plurality of rear supports each have a recess opening upward.
 13. The collapsible shelving unit of claim 12 wherein the plurality of shelves each include a plurality of feet received in the plurality of recesses in the plurality of front supports and the plurality of rear supports.
 14. The collapsible shelving unit of claim 13 wherein the front frame and the rear frame are formed of plastic and wherein the plurality of shelves are wire shelves. 